Rack mounted electronic module support mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for supporting a rack mounted electronic module during both storage and access is disclosed. The mechanism includes side-by-side pais of scissor-like two-bar linkages. Each of the front and rear ends of the mechanism includes four pivot points: on the rear end of the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotally coupled to the rear of the rack while the two bottom pivot points support a rolling member that rolls vertically along the rack rear wall; on the front end of the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotally coupled to the rear of the module while the two bottom pivot points support a rolling member that rolls vertically along the module rear wall.

United States Patent [1 1 Brown [4 Sept. 18, 1973 [75] Inventor: RalphA. Brown, Bountiful, Utah [73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 239,083

[52] US. Cl 248/277, 312/273, 312/320 [51] Int. Cl. F16m 13/00 [58]Field of Search 248/277, 324; 211/105; 312/273, 320

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,490,603 1/1970Willel'..... 248/277 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,354,308 1/1964France 312/320 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney-Kenneth T.Grace et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A mechanism for supporting a rack mounted electronicmodule during both storage and access is disclosed; The mechanismincludes side-by-side pais of scissorlike two-bar linkages. Each of thefront and rear ends of the mechanism includes four pivot points: on therear end of the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotally coupledto the rear of the rack while the two bottom pivot points support arolling member that rolls vertically along the rack rear wall; on thefront end of the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotallycoupled to the rear of the module while the two bottom pivot pointssupport a rolling member that rolls vertically along the module rearwall.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 8 3. 759.475

RACK MOUNTED ELECTRONIC MODULE SUPPORT MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In the prior art, rack mounted electronic modules aregenerally supported by a pair of horizontally retracting slide members,each of the slide members being mounted on opposite side walls of thesupporting rack structure. The electronic module is then secured to thesliding member of the slide assembly for movement into and out of therack structure. The side mounted slide assemblies, in thisconfiguration, occupy width dimensions making the rack structure widerthan desirable. This is especially true in configurations of multipleside-by-side rack installations. In narrow, high electronic modules topand bottom side assemblies have been used; however, because the slideassemblies are then installed with the flat sliding member horizontallyoriented excessive bending movements in the slide assembly aregenerated. Accordingly, it is desirable that a support be provided forelectronic modules that requires no additional width or heightdimensions over those of the supported electronic module but which canbe incorporated in the area between the rear of the electronic moduleand the rack structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toward amechanism that supports a rack-supported electronic module while in bothits stored and open positions while not requiring any width or heightdimensions over those of the supported electronic module. The mechanismis comprised of at least a pair of spissor-like two-bar linkages each ofwhich are pivotally coupled at their centers. The pair of two-barlinkages are, in turn, pivotally coupled at their centers formingsimilar X-like configurations about which common center the bars rotatefreely. Each of the front and rear ends of the mechanism includes fourpivot points one on each end of each of the four bars: on the rear endof the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotally coupled to therear of the rack while the two bottom pivot points support a rollingmember which rolls vertically along the rack rear wall; on the front endof the mechanism the two top pivot points are pivotally coupled to therear of the module while the two bottom pivotpoints support a rollingmember that rolls vertically along the module rear wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of therear end of the mechanism of the present invention illustrating how itis attached to the rear wall of the rack structure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the front end of the mechanism of thepresent invention illustrating how it is attached to the rear wall ofthe electronic module.

. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference toFIG. 1 there is presented an isometric view of the rear end of themechanism of the present invention illustrating how it is attached tothe rear wall of the rack structure. In this illustration, electronicmodule 4 is shown in its open position sub stantially drawn out of rackstructure 6 with mechanism 8 in its extended position and supportingelectronic module 4 free of the front and side walls of the rackstructure 6. In its closed position, the rear surface 5 of flange 7 isagainst the front surface of the front wall 9 of rack structure6-mechanisrn 8 is then in its compressed condition between the rearwalls of electronic module 4 and rack structure 6. Electronic module 4is then locked in place by attaching hardware through front flange 7 andfront wall 9.

The mechanism 8 is comprised of: a pair of single pivot points 10 and12; two-bar linkages 14, 16 and 18, 20, respectively, that are pivotallyintercoupled at their ends at mating pivot points 22 and 24 to form afourbar linkage of four pivot points 10, 12, 22, 24; a similar pair oftwo-bar linkages 15, 17 and 19, 21 are pivotally intercoupled at theirends at similar mating pivot points to form a similar four-bar linkageof similar four pivot points; the two similar four-bar linkages are thenintercoupled by spacers 32, 34, 36, 38 at their similar four pivotpoints 10, 12, 22, 24, respectively, to form an accordian-like boxstructure in which the four free ends of the mechanism on each end aresaid to describe the front and rear ends, respectively. .At the rearend, the mechanism 8 pivotally couples two top rear ends of bars 18, 19at their pivot points 40, 42 to associated flanges 41, 43 of rearsupport panel 44 which is affixed to the rear wall 46 of rack structure6 by hardware 50. Also at the rear end of mechanism 8, a roller 52 ispivotally coupled to the two bottom rear ends of bars 20, 21 at theirpivot points 53, 54 for rolling vertically along the surface of rearpanel 44 whenever mechanism 8 is compressed or extended by the storageor opening, respectively, of electronic module 4. Also i1- lustrated isa cable 56 for electrically coupling the electronic module 4 toelectrical connector 57 that is mounted on the rear wall 46 of rackstructure 6.

With particular reference to FIG. 2 there is presented an isometric viewof the front end of the mechanism of the present invention illustratinghow it is attached to the rear wall of the electronic module 4. Thisillustration shows how at the front end the mechanism 8 pivotallycouples the two top front ends of bars 14, 15 at their pivot points 60,61 to the two associated flanges 62, 63, respectively, of front supportpanel 64. Also at the front end of mechanism 8 a roller 56 is pivotallycoupled to the two bottom front ends of bars 16, 17 at their pivotpoints 57, 58 for rolling vertically along the surface of front panel 64whenever mechanism 8 is compressed or extended. Front support panel 64has a notch 65 on its top edge for receiving the mating associatedflange66 that extends rearwardly and downw'ardly from the top rear edge ofelectronic module 4. By hooking the flange 66 over the top edge of frontsupport panel 64 and into the mating notch 65, the guide pins 68, 70pass into the mating associated alignment holes 69, 71 to alignelectronic module 4 with mechanism 8; attaching hardware then securesone to the other. Electrical connector 72 passes through opening 74 infront support panel 64 to permit the mating connector of cable 56 toattach thereto.

Although mechanism 8 is illustrated as being com- 1. A rack mountedelectronic module support mechanism, comprising:

a plurality of two-bar linkages pivotally interconnected for forming anextensible mechanism having front and rear ends;

a rear panel having two pivot points for pivotally securing two top endsof two of said two-bar linkages to said rear panel;

a front panel having two pivot points for pivotally securing two topends of two of said two-bar linkages to said front panel;

a rear roller pivotally secured to two bottom ends of two of saidtwo-bar linkages;

a front roller pivotally secured to two bottom ends of two of saidtwo-bar linkages;

said front roller rolling on a surface of said front panel and said rearroller rolling on a surface of said rear panel for maintaining saidfront and rear panels substantially parallel as said rollers roll alongsaid panels while said mechanism is being extended.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said front panel includes means forsupporting an electronic module.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said means for supporting anelectronic module includes openings for receiving an extension of saidelectronic module and locating said electronic module on said frontpanel.

anism, comprising:

N pair of two-bar linkages, the bars of each two-bar linkage beingpivotally intercoupled at their single pivot point;

the two-bar linkages of each pair of two-bar linkages coupled in aside-by-side relationship;

ones of each of said pair of two-bar linkages pivotally intercoupledatcorresponding ends for forming an extensible mechanism having frontand rear ends;

a rear panel having two pivot points for pivotally securing two top endsof two of said two-bar linkages to said rear panel;

a front panel having two pivot points for pivotally securing two topends of two of said two-bar linkages to said front panel;

a rear roller pivotally secured to two bottom ends of two of saidtwo-bar linkages;

a front roller pivotally secured to two bottom ends of two of saidtwo-bar linkages; said front roller rolling on a surface of said frontpanel and said rear roller rolling on a surface of said rear panel formaintaining said front and rear panels substantially parallel as saidrollers roll along said panels while said mechanism is being extended.

1. A rack mounted electronic module support mechanism, comprising: aplurality of two-bar linkages pivotally interconnected for forming anextensible mechanism having front and rear ends; a rear Panel having twopivot points for pivotally securing two top ends of two of said two-barlinkages to said rear panel; a front panel having two pivot points forpivotally securing two top ends of two of said two-bar linkages to saidfront panel; a rear roller pivotally secured to two bottom ends of twoof said two-bar linkages; a front roller pivotally secured to two bottomends of two of said two-bar linkages; said front roller rolling on asurface of said front panel and said rear roller rolling on a surface ofsaid rear panel for maintaining said front and rear panels substantiallyparallel as said rollers roll along said panels while said mechanism isbeing extended.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said front panelincludes means for supporting an electronic module.
 3. The mechanism ofclaim 2 wherein said means for supporting an electronic module includesopenings for receiving an extension of said electronic module andlocating said electronic module on said front panel.
 4. A rack mountedelectronic module support mechanism, comprising: N pair of two-barlinkages, the bars of each two-bar linkage being pivotally intercoupledat their single pivot point; the two-bar linkages of each pair oftwo-bar linkages coupled in a side-by-side relationship; ones of each ofsaid pair of two-bar linkages pivotally intercoupled at correspondingends for forming an extensible mechanism having front and rear ends; arear panel having two pivot points for pivotally securing two top endsof two of said two-bar linkages to said rear panel; a front panel havingtwo pivot points for pivotally securing two top ends of two of saidtwo-bar linkages to said front panel; a rear roller pivotally secured totwo bottom ends of two of said two-bar linkages; a front rollerpivotally secured to two bottom ends of two of said two-bar linkages;said front roller rolling on a surface of said front panel and said rearroller rolling on a surface of said rear panel for maintaining saidfront and rear panels substantially parallel as said rollers roll alongsaid panels while said mechanism is being extended.